Cigarette case for limiting smoking

ABSTRACT

A hinged cigarette case is provided in its bottom section with a retaining bar that is hinged at one end to the case and is urged by a spring toward the bottom section to hold a row of cigarettes in place. Fitting in the bottom section is a chart provided with a plurality of spaced parallel lines extending lengthwise of it. The spaces between the lines correspond in number to the number of cigarettes the case is designed to hold and each has substantially the same width as a cigarette. The chart also is provided with a series of numbers at one end of the spaces designating predetermined hours of the day, whereby each cigarette in the case is designated by the hour it is to be removed from the case for smoking.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Nicholas C. Mitchell 996 Balmoral Drive, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15237 [21] Appl. No. 875,941

[22] Filed Nov. 12, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971 [54] CIGARETTE CASE FOR LIMITING SMOKING 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs. I

[52] U.S. Cl. 206/41 A, 206/ DIG. 29

[51] Int. Cl A24f 15/12 [50] Field of Search 206/41 A. DIG. 29, 41 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,062,365 11/1962 Fletcher 206/41 A Primary Examiner' Leonard Summer Artorney-Brown, Murray, Flick & Peckham ABSTRACT: A hinged cigarette case is provided in its bottom section with a retaining bar that is hinged at one end to the case and is urged by a spring toward the bottom section to hold a row of cigarettes in place. Fitting in the bottom section is a chart provided with a plurality of spaced parallel lines extending lengthwise of it. The spaces between the lines cor respond in number to the number of cigarettes the case is designed to hold and each has substantially the same width as a cigarette. The chart also is provided with a series of numbers at one end of the spaces designating predetermined hours of the day, whereby each cigarette in the case is designated by the hour it is to be removed from the case for smoking.

STOP CAUTION OK CIGARETTE CASE FOR LIMITING SMOKING Many people who smoke cigarettes would like to reduce the number that they smoke each day without giving them up entirely, but they usually find this is hard to do. They have difficulty spacing their smokes and they lose track of how many they have already smoked and how many remain for the rest of the day. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a cigarette case so constructed that it will enable the smoker to space a given number of cigarettes throughout the day.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a view of the inside of an open cigarette case filled with cigarettes;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the open case with the cigarettes removed and with one element broken away; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken on the line IlI-III of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a cigarette case is formed from two similar rectangular sections 1 and 2 that are connected by a hinge 3 along one edge in the usual way. When the case is closed, these sections form its top and bottom or front and back. The marginal portions of the two sections are curved toward each other to give the case enough thickness for it to hold cigarettes. Around three sides of each section there is an intumed integral lip or flange 4, the flanges of one section seating on those of the other when the case is closed. The case can be held closed in any suitable manner, such as by a latch 6 mounted on the inner end of a push button 7 slidably mounted in the outer sidewall of the bottom section. The latch is attached to the center of a spring wire 8 that extends in opposite directions under the adjoining flange and then across the bottom section beneath its end flanges. The spring urges the latch outwardly and, when the case is closed, the latch hooks onto the outer edge flange of the top section.

Extending across the bottom section is a retaining bar 10, the inner end of which is pivoted on the hinge pin of the case hinge. A torsion spring 11 on the pin urges the bar toward the bottom of the bottom section, but the outer end of the bar can be swung over and into the top section when desired, as indicated in FIG. 2. The purpose of the bar is to hold a row of cigarettes 12 in place in the bottom section of the case.

It is a feature of this invention that fitting in the bottom of the bottom section there is a chart 14, as shown in FIG. 2, which is provided with a plurality of space parallel lines 15 that extend lengthwise of the section; that is, parallel to the case hinge. The spaces 16 between the lines correspond in number to the number of cigarettes that the case is designed to hold. For example, the case shown is intended to hold 10 cigarettes when it is filled. Each of the spaces is substantially the same width as a cigarette, so that each space is covered by a cigarette when the case is full. The spaces can be numbered consecutively along one end if desired, thereby showing at a glance how many cigarettes have been removed from the case.

The chart also carries a series of numbers at one end of the parallel spaces for designating certain predetermined hours of the day. The morning hours are located toward the side of the bottom section that is beside the outer end of the retaining bar, because the first cigarette to be removed from the case would normally be at that side of the case. The numbers for the afternoon hours are at the ends of a central group of the spaces and the evening hour spaces are located near the inner end of the retaining bar. The hours that are designated are those at which it is considered that smoking a cigarette is the most desirable. For example, for a case that holds ten cigarettes, the first hour for smoking may be 9 oclock in the morning. Then around lunch time smoking may be allowed at I l, 12 and 1 oclock. A midaftemoon cigarette may be at 3 clock. For the dinner hours smoking may be provided at 5, 6 and 7 o'clock. A midevening cigarette then can be smoked at 9 oclock, with a good-night smoke at l 1. Of course, other arrangements of the hours are possible and even may be found desirable in many cases.

The chart 14 that carries this information preferably indicated. Although they can be on the back of the plastic sheet, where they are protected by the sheet I, it is preferable to print them on a rectangular card 19 that is covered by the plastic sheet. The edges of the card and plastic sheet project beneath case flange 4 to hold them in place, as shown in FIG. 3.

It is also desirable that the spaces 16 on the chart be shown in groups of different colors indicating morning, afternoon and evening cigarettes. It is preferred that the morning group of spaces be colored green for the start of the day, the afternoon group be colored yellow, and the evening group colored red to show the smoker that he is approaching the stopping point of his smoking for the day. These colors are indicated by the crosshatching in FIG. 2, which has been shown only where the plastic sheet has been broken away, but of course in practice the colors would also be clearly visible through the transparent plastic.

A cigarette case constructed in accordance with this invention shows the smoker, who is trying to control his smoking, just when and how often he is allowed to smoke and how many cigarettes he can plan on for the rest of the day after each smoke. If he follows the chart honestly, he will finish each day with having smoked only the number of cigarettes that were in the case at the beginning of the day, and they will have been spaced out according to a definite plan. By having this program of smoking before him all of the time, he will soon get into the habit of smoking only at the prescribed times and will thereby confine his smoking to a limited number of cigarettes per day.

lclaim:

l. A cigarette case comprising top and bottom rectangular case sections hinged together along one edge, the bottom section having sidewalls with inturned flanges, a cigarette-retaining bar normally extending across said bottom section and hinged at its inner end to the hinged edge of said sections, a spring urging said bar toward said bottom section to hold a row of cigarettes therein, and a chart fitting in said bottom section against its bottom and covering the entire area thereof, the marginal area of the chart being retained between the bottom of the bottom section and said flanges, the chart being provided with a plurality of spaced parallel lines extending lengthwise thereof parallel to said edge, the spaces between the lines corresponding in number to the number of cigarettes the case is designed to hold and each having substantially the same width as a cigarette, the chart also having a series of numbers thereon at one end of said spaces designating predetermined hours of the day, said numbers being in an exposed location even when the cigarettes are in place, said numbers starting with morning hours adjacent the side of the bottom section beside the outer end of said bar and ending with evening hours near the hinged side of the bottom section, whereby each cigarette in the case will be designated by the hour it is to be removed from the case for smoking.

2. A cigarette case according to claim 1, in which said spaces are grouped into morning and afternoon and evening hours, and each of said groups is a different color from the other two groups.

3. A cigarette case according to claim 2, in which said morning group is green; the afternoon group is yellow and the evening group is red.

4. A cigarette case according to claim I, in which said chart includes a rectangular sheet of transparent plastic covering said lines and numbers.

5. A cigarette case according to claim 1, in which said spaces are grouped into morning and afternoon and evening hours, each of said groups is a different color from the other groups, and said chart includes a rectangular card carrying said groups of colored spaces, and :a rectangular sheet of plastic covering the card. 

1. A cigarette case comprising top and bottom rectangular case sections hinged together along one edge, the bottom section having sidewalls with inturned flanges, a cigarette-retaining bar normally extending across said bottom section and hinged at its inner end to the hinged edge of said sections, a spring urging said bar toward said bottom section to hold a row of cigarettes therein, and a chart fitting in said bottom section against its bottom and covering the entire area thereof, the marginal area of the chart being retained between the bottom of the bottom section and said flanges, the chart being provided with a plurality of spaced parallel lines extending lengthwise Thereof parallel to said edge, the spaces between the lines corresponding in number to the number of cigarettes the case is designed to hold and each having substantially the same width as a cigarette, the chart also having a series of numbers thereon at one end of said spaces designating predetermined hours of the day, said numbers being in an exposed location even when the cigarettes are in place, said numbers starting with morning hours adjacent the side of the bottom section beside the outer end of said bar and ending with evening hours near the hinged side of the bottom section, whereby each cigarette in the case will be designated by the hour it is to be removed from the case for smoking.
 2. A cigarette case according to claim 1, in which said spaces are grouped into morning and afternoon and evening hours, and each of said groups is a different color from the other two groups.
 3. A cigarette case according to claim 2, in which said morning group is green; the afternoon group is yellow and the evening group is red.
 4. A cigarette case according to claim 1, in which said chart includes a rectangular sheet of transparent plastic covering said lines and numbers.
 5. A cigarette case according to claim 1, in which said spaces are grouped into morning and afternoon and evening hours, each of said groups is a different color from the other groups, and said chart includes a rectangular card carrying said groups of colored spaces, and a rectangular sheet of plastic covering the card. 